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LORD LANSDOWNE'S MISTAKE,
(Daily Press, 21st July.)
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Lord CRANBORNE's unfortunate little mis- take the other day seems to have been made the subject of further interpellation in Parliament. In the House of Lords replying to Lord SPENCER, Lord LANS DOWN is reported to have said that Lord CRANBORNE's statement caused more per- turbation in England than in Japan. The Japanese, he added, had shown conspicuous vigour of judgment and a moderation highly creditable to them. Of course it is satis factory to be told that the British public and Press had judged Lord CRANBORNE's lapsus linguæ more harshly than the Japanese had seen fit to do, but we fear that this hardly proves that it was less felt or noted in the land of the Rising Sun, The Japanese papers, no doubt plentifully endowed with commonsense, would speedily come to the conclusion either that the speech was merely the utterance of one Minister, possibly made with some good reason from a political point of view, or a hasty remark for which he alone was responsible. Against this rather disparag- ing delivery they could, and doubtless did, set the general chorus of approval of Japan by British statesmen and the British Press and the very flattering reception accorded to Prince KOMATSU by King EDWARD VII. Having done this, the Japanese, even if more touchy than we give them credit for being, could well afford to regard Lord CRANBORNE'S pronouncement with equani- mity. And this was doubtless what happened. At the same time it is to be regretted that a responsible British Minister should be guilty of such lapses from dis- cretion. We can only hope that with experience may come increased wisdom, Lord CRANBORNE evidently is a chip of the old block. His illustrious father, who rarely in his long and successful career did a really foolish act, on several notable occasions allowed his tongue to run away with him. This trait was conspicuous when he sat in the House of Commons as Lord ROBERT CECIL, and it did not wholly leave him after he took up the burden of government as Marquess of SALISBURY. We hope, however, that the annoyance now caused by his slip will induce Viscount CRANBORNE to impose a guard upon a too ready tongue, more especially when making
official statements.
THE CORONATION.
[July 28, 1902. that it should be clothed. On the accession | decision should be taken, and unless the of Queen VICTORIA, it was felt that besides most absolute guarantees can be secured the interest of her own people in the grace- against its revival under other names, it is ful Princess who had found herself on her vain to eveu consider the advisability of its first entrance on mature life entrusted with | abolition. For our own part, we would the responsible functions of ruler of a great much prefer to allow this particular sleep- kingdom, the world at large had an interesting dog to lie unless a simultaneous stipu- in the nation that had played the principal lation be made for the abolition of the salt rôle in saving Europe from a military and opium barriers. Without this condition, despotism; and amid the splendours of the the gain would indeed be slight, for other- Coronation not the least remarkable was the wise all the machinery for the imposition magnificent display made by the representa- of new duties under other names would tives of the crowned heads of Europe. At remain, and the latter state of the import that time the connections of the reigning duties in China might well prove worse family of England with those of the Con- than the first. But it is possible that Sir tinent were few, and scarcely partook of an JAMES MACKAY-whose patience under ntimate nature. Through the numerous difficulties and whose untiring industry children and grandchildren of Queen in a trying climate are wholly a mirable- VICTORIA these family relationships of may have evolved some fresh solution of- the English Royal Family have become the difficulty which seems to the Foreign not only wider, but more intimate; so Minister to be, as he says, of a hopeful that there is scarcely a reigning character. Nevertheless, knowing now by family on the Continent which is not experience how exceedingly important to directly or indirectly connected by descent British trade this proposed settlement of a or marriage with the House of Saxe-Coburg- great problem must be, Lord LANSDOWND Gotha. This fact was displayed in Queen has wisely decided not to hastily commit VICTORIA'S Diamond Jubilee, where the by the British Government to any new leap in no means least conspicuous feature of the the dark in the East. procession was the magnificent Escort of Princes who preceded Her Majesty to do her honour. The same fact was intended to have been emphasised in the Coronation, at which, marking the growth of the Empire since the accession of Queen VICTORIA, invitations were issued not alone to the States of Europe, but to those of any significance in Asia, Africa and America. When the unfortunate illness of the King made it impossible to celebrate the event at the appointed time, it was wisely decided that all engagements should be cancelled and no new invitations issued. In the uncertainty that supervened during the first few days of the King's illness most of the royal guests already present in London took their departure, and it is uncertain if it will be possible for them to reassemble. The ceremony will thus be shorn of much of its splendour while the perid deter- mined on for proceeding with the Coronation will doubtless result in a large diminution in the numbers of the onlookers. But this very diminution in its lustre will doubtless have the effect of emphasising its domestic character, and rendering it a more represen- tative gathering of the Empire. What in fact the ceremony loses in breadth it will gain in intensity; and it will become uotate only a ceremony of Coronation, but a genuine thank-offering for the recovery of the King from a dangerous malady. It is to be hoped that this feeling will be widely exemplified throughout the Empire, and that wide advantage will be taken of it to show how genuine is the feeling of personal loyalty and gratitude towards the son of our late beloved Queen VicгORIA.
(Daily Press, 19th July.) Although the deferred Coronation will in some respects partake of the idea of a regalvanisation of its former intended self, it will for the Empire at large partake of a double nature; inasmuch as it will not only represent the final official act of acceptance, but will even more strongly than at first indicate that strong personal feeling of loyalty that endears the Crown to the nation at large, a loyalty, it is well to remember, not on one side only; for if the most apparent display of loyalty be that of the nation towards the Sovereign, there exists side by side with it the thorough and heartfelt loyalty of the Crown towards its people. In the abstract no more unsuitable day for the ceremony could probably be selected than the second week in August, yet the nation at large perfectly coincides with the King's desire that it should take place at as early a date as possible consistent with the full restoration of his health. Come what will, the ceremony must be shorn of much of the representa- tive character with which it was intended
SIR JAMES MACKAY'S TRADE FROPOSALS.
(Daily Press, 21st July.)
The announcement telegraphed in another column is of exceptional interest and im- portance to all engaged in trade in China. Lord LANSDOWNE has been able to make a statement which will be received with general satisfaction. He has received from Sir JAMES LYLE MACKAY a hopeful pro- posal with reference to lekin promising a basis for arrangement, but his Lordship was careful to add that before accepting this proposal the Government intended to consult the best authorities in England and China. This is well, for the lekin question is so complicated and so large that no hasty
With regard to the remainder of Sir JAMES MACKAY'S report to the Foreign Office, as stated by Lord LANSDOWNE, there is less cause for dubiety, less occasion for reserve in the expression of our satisfaction. The British Special Commissioner reports that he has succeeded in effecting an agree ment for the protection of trade marks; the extension of the system of bonded ware- bouses; the improvement of the approaches to the Cauton and Yangtze rivers; the equalisation of the import duties on goods whether carried by junks or steamers; the official recognition of 'the obligations of Chinese shareholders in British limited liability companies; and, finally, a general agreement for the establishment of a national currency in China. That Sir JAMES MACKAY had obtained an under- taking by the Chinese Government to remove the obstructions in the Canton River (which we hope includes its arms the West, North, and East Rivers) we had already learned, from a statement recently made in the House of Commons, and we presumed that a similar assurance had been secured with regard to the Yangtsze. transfer of the collection of the native Customs from the Hoppo to the Collector-
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The
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of the Imperial Maritime Customs had apparently ensured the equalisation of the duties by junk and steamer- an arrangement which we trust fresh imposition, under the name of battery tax, loti-shui; or on any other pretence, will be permitted to render nugatory. was also understood that the system of bonded warehouses, heretofore confined to Shanghai and there granted as an exclusive privilege to a Chinese company, was to be extended to foreign godowns and applied to other ports. But the other conditions were matters for negotiation, which might or might not be won, according to the energy, the persistency, and the sagacity of the British representative. It is certainly most gratifying to find that not only have they formed the subjects of negotiation, but also that Sir JAMES MACKAY would be satisfied with nothing short of their concession.
The necessity for the protection of trade marks has been frequently demonstrated. The Chinese, like the Japanese, are exceed- ingly clever in imitating the foreign chops, and it is reassuring to learn that this point has been conceded by the Chinese Govern- ment. We only hope that the protection to be given will prove effective. Very much will of course rest with the Consuls in this
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